Portland to SF with 2 days.

DerPo · 10-19-2015, 01:15 PM

Hey folks! I'm in the process of planning my SMB pickup from Portland on Thursday (10/22) at 12pm and the subsequent drive home.

My girlfriend is running the Ragnar Relay Race (SF - Napa) and I will be picking her up in Napa on Saturday at 3pm.

So... I have 2 days to get from Portland to Napa by myself! I've never been north of SF in a car, so what should I check out? Where should I camp?

Ford_6L_E350 · 10-19-2015, 04:33 PM

It is a long drive down Highway 1, but doable in 2 long days and gets you into Napa easily. Plenty of camping along the coast.

Down I-5 it is 600-650 miles to Napa. You would have to get off the freeway to see anything. Myrtle Creek is about 1/2 way and a decent city campground. Chico is worth a stop, so is Redding.

Mike

2xplore · 10-20-2015, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DerPo

Hey folks! I'm in the process of planning my SMB pickup from Portland on Thursday (10/22) at 12pm and the subsequent drive home.

My girlfriend is running the Ragnar Relay Race (SF - Napa) and I will be picking her up in Napa on Saturday at 3pm.

So... I have 2 days to get from Portland to Napa by myself! I've never been north of SF in a car, so what should I check out? Where should I camp?

The southern Oregon coastline is beautiful so count my vote for highway 1 south. I would go I5 south from Portland to Eugene, then head west to the coast.
If you are interested in aircraft the museum in McMinnville is worth the stop. Cool displays and the Spruce Goose is there as well. It's about 40 miles sw of Portland, so if you make that stop you can just continue southwest from there and hit the coast a bit north of my first suggestion. Either route is a good choice.

**daveb** · 10-21-2015, 07:48 AM

You after a camp ground or boon dock spots?

WhitH · 10-21-2015, 01:12 PM

Cutting over at Eugene is fairly easy and nice or you can head south a bit further and get off at the Drain/Elkton exit and head over. This is a really nice drive by the river over to Reedsport and will take you by an Elk refuge for a bit of viewing. Typically less traffic on this route and in my opinion more scenic.

**daveb** · 10-22-2015, 12:35 PM

I'll admit I did enjoy Jedediah Smith SP as far as a campground goes. If it's open this time of year I doubt there would be many folks around. I really enjoyed the one way drive through the big trees next to the campground. I also liked USAL beach when I was there a few years back. Lost coast is sure nice.

Good luck with your van delivery and enjoy the trip. Sounds like you might get some wet weather on Sunday in upper CA.